- 621 
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IOWA HISTORICAL LECTURES. 



THE urn CiERGY OF IOWA, 



COMPILED p-OR THE 




te jlistoricol Jocietn of Iowd, 



B ^ 



J. L PICKARD, LL D., 

w 

OF IOWA CITY, IOWA. 



rat 

Tvy of 
in 



IOWA CITY, IOWA: 

Published by the State Historical Society. 

1894. 



U- 



The Early Clergy oFlIowa. 



INTRODUCTORY NOTE, 

pHE following pages are given as nearly as possible 
'"'^j!JK-g''v "^ ^"^^ words of those who have so kindly aided the 
'^fW^ compiler. Extensive correspondence has been sup- 

dm plemented In' the examination of libraries both west 
,|, and east. 

Most of those to whom application has been made for infor- 
mation, have very jiromjitly responded. A few ha\'e made no 
reply. 

The work is by no means ct)mplete. Errors will be discoN - 
ered and the compiler will be very grateful for their correc- 
tion. The earlv clergy were loo busy in niakiiio- ///s/orv to 
devote much time to recording their deeds. Each denomina- 
tion should put upon record its earliest efforts in the "making 
of Iowa." Manv of the statements contained in this compila- 
tion will be found in print for the first time. It is hoped that 
they may be verified and thus become an accurate histor\ of 
church movements in territorial days. Participants ha\e in 
great measure entered upon their reward. Their inunediale 
successors are few who survive. The present clergy of llie 
State are strangers to the toil and sacrifices which accompa- 
nied the lix'es of men and women who prepared tlie field for 
tiieir cultivation. 

Co.Ml'II.KK. 



u~ B-si^n 



lOVVA 1 llS'lOKlCAI. Ll-X'JTKKS. 

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 



The followiiii; slalement is by Rev. Father John F. Kemp- 
ker. of Adair, Iowa, author of History of Roman Catholic 
Church in Iowa. 

Since the time of Father Marquette and of Father Henne- 
pin, it is not definitely known that any one of their number set 
loot within the present limits of Iowa until about the 3'ear 1828. 
l"'rom that year, until 1832, Fathers J. A. Lutz, C. F. Van- 
Quickenborne and St. V, Badin, made several visits in this 
rejL(ion. However, the accounts of these are very meagre, nor 
(lid they lind much opportunity of exercising their apostolical 
/.eal. since the settlements were very insignificant, and scat- 
tered at long intervals along the banks of the river. Rev. St. 
V. Hadin was the lirst priest oixlained in the United States. 
Ke\. J. A. Lutz was a very zealous and amiable young Ger- 
man jiriest, of the diocese of St. Louis. Although it is known 
(it liim that lie made repeated visits along the river, the only 
accoiml tliat can be found of these is the mention of a pvo- 
tracted visit in 1831 to the jieople of Prairie du Chien. 

Rev. C. F. VanQuickenborne was a zealous and most e.x- 
i'mjilar\- Jesuit jiriest of the pro\ince of St. Louis, and of him 
it is said that he held di\'ine ser\ice in the lead mines of Du" 
biujue about the year 1832. 

The V ery Rey. Samuel Mazzuchelli was sent as missionar\- 
jiriest to the northwest, with stations at Mackinaw Island. 
Green Bay, Fort Winnebago, Prairie du Chien, and amongst 
the many fruits of his pious labors he counted the conversion 
and baptism of nearly fifteen hundred Indians in this region 
ti^om tht' time of his arri\al until 1835. 

Re\. J. McMahon in the autumn of 1832, took uj") his resi- 
dence at (ralena. Illinois. Under his charge came the lead 
mines of Dulnujue. where he is said to ha\e held divine ser- 
vice in 1833. ^^" the igth of June. 1833. he fell a \ictim 
to the cholera scourge. 

In the early part of 1834. ''^^'^■- C.J. l^'itzmauiice came as 
the duK authorized ]iastoi'. dixiding his time- between (jalena 



TuK Eari,\ Ci.kk(;\- of k)VVA. 3 

aiul J3ubuque. alternating; with divine service on Sundays, 
taking up his residence part of the time in Dubuque. He 
■^-ntered claims for church grounds, obtained a subscription for 
one thousand one hundred dollars, had the boards and timber 
engaged, and the contract for building given out to a car- 
penter, when he was snatched away by the dire scourge and 
ail the building arrangements were abandoned, in the same 
vear Dubuque witnessed the construction of a church b\- 
another denomination. ^ In the early summer of 1835, the 
Very Rev. Samuel Mazzuchelli succeeded to the pastorate and 
at once connnenced the construction of churches, both in Ga- 
k-na and Dubuque, extending his missionary visits also to 
many other places of the vicinity. Among other places he 
visited Davenport as early as 1835, commenced the building 
of a church there in 1837. and completed the same in 1838. 
The blessing of this last named church took place on the 23d 
of Mav. 1839. ^^ Bishop Loras. 

The first priest who extended his visits to the southern part 
of the state was Rev. P. I^. Lefevre. He came in 1834, 
founded two or three little missions in the "Black Hawk Pur- 
chase." and made occasional visits until 1837. In that year 
Father August Brickwadde. of Quincy, received charge of the 
h)wa district then known as the '-Wisconsin Territory"' and 
for several vears visited the people of Fort Madison, West 
Point, and Sugar Creek. 

The tirst church in Lee county was built of logs bv the 
■early settlers at Sugar Creek in the summer of 1838. 

The Dubuque, Davenport, and Sugar Creek churches were 
the only edifices of worship for the Catholics in Iowa upon the 
arrival of Bishop Loras on April 19th. 1839. excepting an In- 
dian chapel at Council Bluffs. At the close of the month of 
May. 1838, Fathers Verreydt and DeSmet, Jesuist mission- 
aries, took up their quarters at Council Bluffs, where they 
were solemnly received by a number of the Indians and their 
<chiefs. A deserted government fort was at once converted 

^Methodist Episcopal, see pafje loi. 



4 Iowa Histof^ical Lectures. 

into a chapel, and several t)ther log cabins were built in tJK- 
neighborhood as a residence for the good fathers and a school 
for tiie Indian neophytes.^ 

The diocese of Dubuque, comprising Iowa Territory, was. 
erected July 28th, 1837, by Pope Gregory XVT. Very Rev. 
Mathias Loras, Vicar (General of Mobile, Alabama, was ap- 
pointed the tirst bishop: and he was consecrated at Mobile 
December loth. 1837. by Rt. Rev. N. Portier. assisted by Kt. 
Rev. A. Blanc. 

Father Mazzuchelli met the Bishop at St. Louis, accom- 
jianied by Rev. Joseph Cretin and Rev. J. T. M. Pelamour- 
gues, and taking the first boat, they arrived at Dubucpie April 
rpth, 1839. The Bishop also had obtained four ecclesiastical 
students, namely, Peter J. Causse, Remigius Petiot. Augustin 
Ravoux and Lucien Galtier. Rev. Remigius Petiot was or- 
dained in the autumn of 1839, and the other three gentlemen 
were ordained priests on January 5th, 1840; and. with the ex- 
ception of the Jesuit priests at Council Bluffs, the ]iaragraph 
shows the entire number of Catholic clergy in Janua]"y. 1840,. 
having charge of Iowa Territory, incliuling the jiiesent Min- 
nesota and part of Wisconsin. 

Bishop Loras took charge of the cathedral in Dulnuiue. en- 
gaged in actual missionary work wherever he was. made fre- 
c[uent visitations throughout his vast jurisdiction, encouraged 
the churches which had been established, and used all his. 
charitable influence in founding new churches. lie also had 
a keen interest for the conversion of the Indians, whom he 
estimated to number thirty thousand in his diocese and even a.s 
early as 1841 appointed missionaries to give them special care; 
to-vvit: h^ither Pelamourgues, for all those in the southern part 
of the diocese; Father Cretin, for those in the north of jiresent 
Iowa; Father Ravoux for those at Ft. Snelling and in west 



^The vcar 1839 seems to have been a _ve;ir of church establishnienl amoiiL; 
the various Protestant liodies, as well as of increased activity in tlie Roinar.. 
Cattiolic churili, untior the inspiration of their tirst liishop in Iowa, nisiiop 
Loras. 



TnK Eari.v Clkrc^' ok Iowa. 5. 

Iowa; and Father Galtier in the regions from V\. Snellini;' U) 
Dubuque and to the eastward. 

Father Ravoux continued acti\e in tliis ckit}'. acquiring tiie 
Sioux lanijuage and securino- some converts. lie also attended 
to the CathoHcs in liis missions, some \ears being the only 
priest amongst them. 

Rev. L. Galtier was stationed at Ft. Snelling in 1S41. I It- 
built a log church, at the present site of St. Paul. Minnesota, 
dedicated it in honor of St. Paul, and from this originates that 
city's name. In 1844. Father Galtier built a log church in 
Keokuk, continued there about one month; then returned to 
Dubuque and from there was appointed pastor of Prairie du 
Chien. 

On May 23d, 1839, Bishop Loras dedicated St. Anthony's 
church in Davenport, and in the autumn appointed Rev. J. A. 
M. Pelamourgues as pastor, who opened a school the same 
year; and who, in addition to Davenport, frequently had charge 
of Rock Island. Illinois, Iowa Cit}'. Muscatine, and also made 
occasional visits to Burlington and smaller stations. 

Father Petiot was appointed to Galena and Illinois, which 
remained the sphere of his activit}-. 

Father Mazzuchelli built St. Paul's church in Burlington, in 
1840; St. Mary's church in Iowa City, in 1842, and until 1843 
was pastor of this section, doing frequent missionarv work in 
Iowa Cit}', Burlington, Muscatine (called Bloomington in its 
early da\s).(Jld Man's Creek. Maquoketa. and missions in 
Illinois. 

In 1842, Bishop Loras had two churches joined and framed 
of lumber at Prairie du Chien. and rafting them down stream. 
he donated one to Muscatine. vSt. Mathias' church; the other 
to Bellevue, where he purchased two lots when the town was 
laid out. 

Very Re\'. j. Cretin was appointed Vicar (leneral, was 
much engaged in the cathedral, had the principal direction of 
a higher school established at Dubuque, where he was fre- 
c[uently one of the professors, and also attended sevi'ral mis- 



6 Iowa Historical Lectures. 

^;ions in his territory, including Garnavillo, Guttenberg. New 
Vienna, and Ft. Atkinson, where churches were built. 

In 1 84 1. Rev. j. C Perrodin arrived, and was appointed 
j-jastor of the IMaquoketa church, situated in Jackson Coimtv; 
also attending Bellevue and other stations. 

In 1840, Rev. J. G. Alleman came here from the Dominican 
priests in Ohio, and built a brick church in Ft. Madison, about 
sixteen b\' sixteen feet in dimensions. He built a larger 
church in 1844. and throughout the territorial days of Iowa, 
attended l"t. Madison, where he also occasionally conducted a 
school and aided in introducing apple trees and orchards; 
West Point, w'here he built a church in 1842. sometimes re- 
siding here for months; Keokuk, where he made visits at 
slated times; also attending such stations as Sugar Creek, 
1 'rim rose and Farmington. Quite often he did missionary 
duties in Burlington, and lie made visits to Dubiu|ue and other 
l")oints on the river. 

In 1843. Rev. John Healev was appointed pastor of Burling- 
ton. ;uid later resided with the Bishop at Dubuque, and as 
pastor at Bellevue. 

In 1843. Rev. A. (jodfert was appointed to Iowa (Jity and 
from there also made visits to Muscatine. Burlington. Old 
Man's Creek and Washington county. 

In Washington county. Richmond and St. Vincent's were 
organized congregations at the close of this period, and were 
under the charge of Iowa City. 

Rev. James Causse was engaged a part of the time at Du- 
buque, but later resided chiefly at Potosi, Wisconsin. 

In 1846. Rev. Henry Herzog was pastor in Burlington. 

In 1843. Rev. T. J. Donaghoe came to the diocese and was 
active in Dubuque, also having charge of motherhouse of the 
Sisters of Charitv. and of the church of Holy Cross on Turkey 
River, in Dubucjue county. 

All these clergymen were ver}- assiduous and diligent in 
their sacred trust in directing the spiritual welfare of the 
people, and promoting the prosperity of the many scattered 



Thk ICarlv Ci.kr(;v ok Iowa. *f 

congregations and encouraging new colonizations. They also 
did what was possible for instruction and education. We find 
a school in Dubuque and in Davenport, in 1839. The three- 
^tory brick house which the Bishop built there in that year+ 
was intended to give rooms for a higher school and seminary. 
In 1840. Bishop Loras contemplated introducing Sisters of 
Charity for the schools; but failing he prevailed upon the Sis- 
ters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in 1843, to remove 
their educational establishment from Philadelphia to Dubuque, 
who arrived the same \ear under the guidance of Mother 
l^^rancis Clarke and immediately established schools in their 
new home. Thus 1846 finds us with an academy- for boys at 
[)ubuque. having an attendance of sixty, and taught by the 
priests of the cathedral. At the same time Mother Francis 
Clarke had in her community thirteen Sisters and seven nov- 
ices, their academy being attended by at least sixty pupils. 

The Indian mission at Council Bluffs took possession of 
log barracks which had been abandoned by the soldiers, and 
converted it into a church: they also built a log house for 
their residence and another for a school to educate the Indians 
(the Pottawattamies.) The names of these Jesuit I^\athers 
w^ere Rev. Felix Verrevdt, and Rev. P. DeSmet. and with 
them was a lav brother. Rev. Christian Hoeken also was on 
duty here from time to time. On August 15th. 1838, they had 
the first high mass, at which the Indians chanted the mass- 
aongs in Latin. Although the missionaries had nearl\- all these 
Indians under instruction they baptized only about one hund- 
red the first year. In 1841. Father Iloeken baptized fully four 
hundred. With the removal of the Pottawattamies to Kansas, 
this Indian mission was discontinued. 

Bishop Loras was given by these Indians a donation of 
forty acres (not far from the present St. Peter and Paul 
Church in Council Bluffs ) ; but he never could get all the 
Chiefs together at the same time for the necessary signature. 

These few pages show an interesting life of the Catholic 
faith in pioneer and territorial Iowa, although many beautiful 
features of missionar^• life could not be portrayed here. 



8 Iowa Historical Lkctur]-:s. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

Tm-; compiler is indebted to Dr. W. F. King-, President ot 
^'ornell College, for the use of documents which contain full 
reports of early Methodism in Iowa. Most of the facts pre- 
sented are taken from these documents, to-wit : Proceedings 
of the Iowa Methodist State Conventions of 1S71 and 1881. 
The reports were made by Revs. Dr. Gollida}'. Dr. Keeler, E. 
H. Waring at the convention of 1871. and bv Rev. E. H.. 
Waring at the coinention of 1881. 



At the opening of the Black Hawk Purchase to settlement 
in 1833. waiting claimants rushed across the Mississippi. 
Among them were the ever alert Methodists, who acted under 
the inspiration of the father of Methodism in Ihinois, Rev. 
Peter Cartwright and of his energetic co-worker, Rev. John 
T. Mitchell. At the session of the Illinois Conference. Sep- 
tember 25th, 1833. Rev. Barton Randle (Randal) and Rev. 
John Mitchell were appointed to the Galena and Dubuque mis- 
sion. Re\'. John Sinclair as presiding elder, watched over the 
field extending from Chicago to Dubuque westward, and to 
Peoria southward. Mr. Sinclair visited (xalena. but he did 
not extend his visit to Dubuque that year. 

On account of the difficulties attending the crossing of the 
Mississippi River, Rev. Barton Randle (Randal) assumed 
charge of the Ditbuque part of the mission, leaving Mr.. 
Mitchell at Galena. On Saturda}-, November 6th, 1833, Mr.. 
Randle (Randal) preached the first Methodist sermon in Iowa, 
at the tavern of Jesse M. Harrison, on the site of the present 
Julien House. Mr. Randle (Randal) finding his stay at the 
tavern unpleasant, sought --a more quiet place to lead, think. 
pray, write, sleep, and eat; and also chose an upper room in a 
large unfurnished ware-house for a preaching place." He- 
fitted up a shanty for his house where he could enjoy his own 
"b(jughtenfeed."* lie soon established preaching stations im 



Thk Kahi.v Ci.i:r(;v oi^ Iowa. 9 

llie C()untr\- about Dubiujue. At Peru, four miles above Du- 
bucjue. he i')reached in a billiard hall which was prepared as ex- 
plained In a witness: ••The table was shoved to the wall, the 
tra]ie/iuiii neath' coNered b\ a cloth, the balls rolled into the 
.sockets, and the mace rods, carefully concealed. I'he people 
leathered in to see and to hear what the preacher would do in 
the liilliard i^oom." The table resembled a collin and Mr. 
Randle (Randal) preached the funeral sermon of the place, 
and had the satisfaction to learn •• that thede\'il nevei" returned 
lo rem()\e his traps.'' The place was sokl and the proceeds 
applied to relii^dous uses. ICarh' in the spring" of 1834. moved 
thereto In •• friendl}" sinners." he began the erection of a house 
of worshijx the first of its kind in the territor\" now known 
;as the Stale of Iowa. We are al?le to present a fac simile of 
the subscription paper. June 23rd. 1834. work was begun; 
Juh' 25th. Mr. Johnston, one of the trustees, records the 
.fact. •• raised the meeting-house with a few hands and without 
spirits of any kind."" The church was finished within four 
weeks of its commencement. Mr. Randle ( Randak) with par- 
donable pride exclaimed, "well done, to collect nioneN'. build a 
splendid log meeting-house, and pay for it. hold a two davs' 
meeting and receixe tweh'e members, all in four weeks. O! 
it was the Lord"s doing; let Him ha\'e the glor\-. Amen."" 
Mr. Randle (Randal) preached his last sermon in Dubuque, 
August loth. 1834. ha\ing received for his year's labor, one 
hundred dollars, ten (jf which was the donation of a gambler 
•of the town. He remained in the active ministr^• till 1845. 
when injured b\' a stroke of lightning, he was laid aside from 
preaching, but was li\ing in 1881. an honored superannuated 
meiuber of the IllincMS Conference. 

l\n'ning now southward, we find the tirst settlers at Flint 
Hills, now l^urlington. in 1832. but no permanent settlement 
till May. 1833. Dr. Ross, a zealous Methodist among the first 
settlers, applied to the Rev. Peter Cartwright in the spring of 
1834. to furnish them a preacher. 

Barton H. Cartwriifht. a native of Aid')urn, New York, who 












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The acconipimyiiig fac simile jiiatcs are from tlie original paper preserveJ 
in the State Historical Society's Collection. It is written on both 
sides, and while the ink has faded in some det^ree, it is yet 
quite plain. The reproduction here gi\en is about one- 
fourth the size of the oriLjina! jiaper. 



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12 IdWA HlSTf)RICAI. LpXTURKS. 

had previously received from Mr. Randle (Randal j •• a license 
to exhort," crossed the river to Flint Hills and received fre- 
• Huent calls to exhort. •• I went about." he says, "breaking- 
prairie and talking- to the people — they called it preaching-" 
March 22nd, 1H34. Peter Cartwright handed him a license 
to preach, in accordance with a vote of the Quarterly Confer- 
(.-nce of the Henderson (Illinois) River Mission. Desiring to 
be independent, he refused to receive any pay for his ministe- 
rial work. And so he started with four yoke of oxen, a 
breaking-]-)low and a load of pro\ender. He broke prairie for 
the settlers h\ da\ . and preached b\' night. When he was in 
need of money, he ■•carried wood on the steamboats." He 
look no collection at his services and received no pa\- for 
preaching. 1 ie soon gathered a band of the faithful about him 
with W. R. koss. a class-leader, whose log cabin of one room 
standing on North Hill, served as kitchen, parlor, chamber, 
and meeting-house. The young missionar^' is described as 
••dressed in plain linen pants, home-made cotton vest, common 
shoes without socks, with no coat and a common chip hat." 
B\ another it is said ••his head was large, his breast broad and 
shoulders hea\'\'; his mouth was plentifullv uide -his lungs 
capable of the highest degree of intonation- -he could make 
bass enough for the whole congregation and sustain a prayer 
meeting to the end without fear, favor or affectation, and he 
was as honest as old Abe Lincoln himself." 

The celebrated Peter Cartwright visited Burlington late in 
18.^4 and preached to the people, standing upon a bent sapling 
and using as a desk, a board resting at one end upon a stake 
dri\en into the gi-ound beside the sapling and at the other end 
upon the top of the sapling which had grown erect at a little 
distance from the root beside the tree which- had fallen upon 
and bent the sapling. 

The Missouri Conference, as Peter Cartwright expressed it, 
••jumped his claim"' and Rev, J. M.Jamison on the Palmvra 

'The claim of Mr. Cartwright of the Illinois Conference is disputed by 
Mr. Jamison of the Missouri Conference, who claims to have been the first 
pre;H-lu-r at Flurlinijton. 



The EARl.^ Ci.ekcjv oi-^ Iowa. 13 

circuit extended his work fifty miles up the Des Moines, 
;ind (Un-in<j^ the sprino- of 183.4, pi'eaclied upon the '-Half 
I^reed Trad."' In the fall of tiiat year. Octoher, 1834, Rev. 
Learner B. Stateler was assigned to the Canton (Missouri) cir- 
cuit, with instructions to attach thereto all the societies on the 
•• Blackhawk Purchase-. "" His work extended to Yellow 
Springs. Mt. Pleasant. Keosaucpia. Ft. Madison and Montrose. 
I lis circuit required travel of three hundred and lifty to four 
hundred miles, over untracked prairies and unbridijfed streams. 

Rev. B. II. Cart\vrii;ht ori^anized seveial societies in the 
nei<yhborhood of Burlington. 

The histories of the "Dubuque Missions" and of the Bur- 
lington Circuit run in nearly parallel lines from the last date 
alK)\e w ritten. till the vear 1839. 

October ist. 1834. Rev. N. S. Bastion succeeded Rev. 
l^arton Randle (Randal) at Uubuque — ^and he was succeeded 
by Rev. H. W. Reed. October ist. 1835. 

The first c[uarterly meeting in Iowa was held at l^urlington 
Ma\' 30th, 1835. Rev. Andrew Monroe acted as Presiding 
Elder from the St. J^ouis District. 

The second quarterl\- meeting was lieUl at ])ubuc[ue. No- 
vember 14th, 1835, l^t;^'- Alfred Brunson from the Wisconsin 
.side of the river actinir as Presidino- Elder. 

At the session of the Missouri Conference in the fall of 1835, 
the work in Iowa ajipeared so unpromising that the J^ishop 
called for volunteers. John II. Ruble, an east Tennesseean 
bv birth, \entured "to carr\ tlie free gospel to the jioor and 
scattered settlers of Iowa."" With Mr. Ruble. John \V. Dole 
was also appointed to Biu'lington biit Mr. Dole does not seem 
to have accepted the appointment and Mr. Ruble, a single man. 
established himself at Mt. Pleasant. Full\- con\ince(l that it 
was not good for a Methodist luinister to lead a single life he 
luarried Miss Diana l^owen h'ebruary, 1836. who in two 
months later was left a widow. Mr. Ruble, combined the tjual- 
ities of intellectual strength, zeal and piet\'. With his death 
a ha]ip\ change came to Methodisiu in Iowa bv tlie transfer 



ij^ iowA Historical Lkctures. 

under authority of the General Conference. May, 1836. of the 
Iowa churches from the Missouri Conference to the Illinois 
Conference. In the few months between the death of Mr. 
Ruble and the session of the Illinois Conference, Rev. West 
and Rev. Daniel G. Cartwri^ht. who had preached as early as 
June. 1833, at Rochester. Cedar county, supplied the churches 
of Burlinoton circuit. In the fall of 1836, Rev. Norris lio- 
bart was sent to Burlington. A new circuit was (jrganized 
north and northwest of Hurlinoton. called the Iowa River 
Mission and Ke-w Daniel G. Cartwright was appointed as 
missionar\ . 

Before the organization of the Iowa Ri\-er Mission, churches 
seem to have been planted at Rockingham, four miles from 
Davenport, and at Macjuoketa -to the former of whicli Rev. 
Chaunce^• Iloharl was assigned b\' the Illinois Conference of 
1836. and to the latter. Rev. (j'eorge Smith. It is not known 
what other churches constituted the Iowa Ri\er Mission at 
this time. 

The poverty of the churches is apparent from the fact that 
the receipts of the Dubuc[ue chui-ch from its organization to 
1838. did not exceed one hundred dollars annually. 

The conference of 1837. meeting at jacksonxille. illin( is. 
aj')i')oin1ed to Dubuque Mission. Re\ . W'ellington Weighlex : to 
Bellexue, Re\ s. John CrumnuT and John (jilliam: and to 
Rockingham. Re\'. .Xorris llobart. 

Upon the Burlington circuit, in 1837. two additional charges 
were formed at Mt. PleasaiU and at h'ort Madison. "Zion 
Church" edifice was Iniilt this same \eai". and has the distinc- 
tion ot ser\ing as a church, as a capitol for Wisconsin Terri- 
tor\- and for Iowa 'I'errilory. as a coiu't house, as a city hall, as 
an acadenu' and as an amusement hall. In the appropriation 
bills of earh' legislatures, appear items for rent — so the church 
was helped by the State toward tlu- paxnient of debts con- 
tracted in erection ol its house oi worship. 

^riie summt'r ot 1838 witnessed a larger innnigration in- 
cluding nian\ Mt'thodists. and (.luirches grew rapidh'. At the 



Till'. l-'vAULV C'T.Kl<(;^ ()!• Iowa. 13 

C'otifcrc'iicc of i8.^S llu' chuixlu's of iiortlu'fii Iowa nuiulHTcd 
seven liundred and fort\ liicmbers, and those of southern 
Iowa numbered li\e hundred and ninet\-foin' members. 

From this lime w c must content ourseUes with namini;' the 
new preachers and the new churches. 

is^vs. 

Ke\'. (iarrett (j. \\ ortliin^loii. whose tabic (.-xpcnses for (he- 
year were eii(ht\-li\ f dollars and sixtv six cents. 
Rev. William Simpson. 
Rev. Henry J. Bruce ( Brace). 

Bishop Morris or^'ani/.ed the- Iowa District" in spite of 
protests and united in this district the two circuits heretofore 
existiui;'. 

Re\'. II. Sunnners was made Presiding- bolder, and \\ illiam 
II. I'aylor. Joel Arrington. M. II. McMurtrie. James V . 
Flanders. Thomas W. Pope. I. I. Stew art. Jesse Ilerberl and 
Joseph L. Kirkpati-ick are added to the list of the cler^x . 

Fox Ri\er. Manchester and Kichland are names of new 
stations. 

Re\-. T. M. Kirkpatrick reports beini; pi'esent at a ipiarterK 
meeting' of the Rockingham circuit where Rew 1>. II. Cart- 
wright and Rev. Henry J. l^ruce (Bi-ace ) were the i:)reachers. 
both married men. The total (juarteragt- reported was a silver 
dime, which the three found it diflicult to divide equitablv. 
Rev. Henry J. Bruce (Brace) was compelled to borrow a 
coat in which to make himself pi"esentable at Confei'ence in 
1840. 

1840. 

The Illinois Conference a\ as divided into three Conferences 
— Wisconsin. Rock River and Illinois L'onferences. "^Fhe 
Iowa churches came under control of the Rock Ri\er Con- 
ference and so contiiuu'd until the oi'gani/.ation of the Iowa 
Conference in 1844. 

Bartholomew Weed as I'residing Eldei" and Re\s. Chester 
Campbell. John Hodges. Philander S. Richardson. lIeni-\ 
Hubbard and Washington Wilcox ap["teai" as new clerg\-. 



1 6 Iowa ITistoi^ical Li<:cti'kes. 

Sjiace will not jiermit the continuation ol" the nanK\s of new 
cleri^y and oi new stations, as Methodist chiu-ehes i^rew \'er\- 
rapidl\ . 

One name anioni;- the clerg\ who came to the State durini;- 
the year 1840. deser\es more than a passing" mention. Re\'. 
Samuel Clark, to whom a worthy tribute is paid b\ his son. 
in the July . \uiniL< of loi.'a. At Xenia. Ohio, durino- the Har- 
rison cam}-)aii;"n. a prominent opjionent t(j the Wjul;" party rose 
and stalked out of the house, when he noticed JMr. Clark take 
his ]-)lace to preach. Mr. Clark at once announced his text 
••The wicked Hee wlien no man piirsueth" before the n"entle- 
man was out of hearini;-. It was not the text he had chosen 
lor ihe da\". but his sermon is spcjken ot as one of the most 
forcil)le sermons eyer j")reached in Ohio. 

Another instance of his readiness t(j meet emergencies is 
related by Judge Wrigiit as occurring at a camp-meeting near 
Keosaucjua. in i8.|2. A disciple of Abner Kneeland gaye 
him a text as he entered the pul]tit --The unknown (jod 
whom \e ignoranth worshi)-)."" •• 1 ha\e neyer heard."" con- 
tinues Judge W^ light. •• nor (hd any one that heard it, eyer hear 
the ecpial in power and greatness, and massiyeness of argumen- 
tation of the sermon Mr. Clark then jireached.'' 

He died in 1858. 

The lirst religious ser\ice held in Iowa Cit\' \yas in the fall 
of 1839. conducted 1"*^' ^^*-"^-J- '^^^ Kirkpatrick. The church 
was organized in 1840. imder Rew (j.(j. Worthington and the 
church edifice was erected in 1842. 

As the Indians renio\'ed in 1842. settlements were made up 
the \)i:':^ Moines Riyer. and in the spring of 1843, the Des 
Moines District was formed b\' dixision of the Burlington 
iJistrict. The missions foimded were barmington. Pittsburgh. 
Soajt Creek. Muchakinock. ' Des Moines. Tairtield and Bir- 
mingham. 

1 lenrx' Summers was first Presiding lilder of the Des 
JVIoines j^istrict. 

' \\';i|H'll() rountN . 



Tin-; Kakl\ CL^;R(;^ ()!■ hnvA. 17 

At this date. 1843. the niembershij-) reached ^-^.626 and low a 
Territory was honored witli a session of the Rock River Con- 
ference at I)u]mu[ui'. Aiio-ust 23rd, 1843. 

1844. 

This was a memorable 3 ear in Iowa Methodism. 

The (leneral Conference of tliis year determined upon the 
organization of the •' fowa Conference."' This was effected af 
fowa City, August 14th. 1844. 

The charter members were Revs. H. W. Reed, (ieorge 
H. Bowman, Bartholomew Weed, J. G. Whitford. Wm. Simp- 
son, 1. 1. Stewart. Josepii S. Kirkpatrick. 1 lenry Summers, T. 
INI. Kirkpatrick. Joel Arrington. Andrew Coleman, Jesse L. 
Bennett, Sidnev Wood. David Worthington, Isaac Searles, S. 
\V. Ingham, and Moses F. Shinn. 

Three districts, Dubuque, Burlington and Dcs Moinet,\ 
were organized. The members of the churches nund-)ered 
5.463 at the first report of the Conference. 

The c[uestion of eckication was prominent in this Conference. 
There were two rival claimants for the endorsement of the 
Conference. The Mt. Pleasant Collegiate Institute and the 
Iowa City College. The Conference lost its opportunit\ for 
building up one strong school which, in the field of higher ed- 
ucation, should for all time represent the denomination. It was 
a mistake b\- no ivieans peculiar to Methodists. The first 
named school grew into the Iowa Wesle^an Universit\' 
the second was merged into the Mt. Vernon Collegiate Insti- 
tute and then became Cornell College. Upper Iowa Univer- 
sity, Simpson College and Methodist Universit\' have been 
added to the list. 

^ 1845. 

Missionary operations were started in Marion. Monroe and 
Lucas counties: also at Fort Des Moines and the regions be- 
yond. 

The lirst sermon preached in \^(i^ Moines \\as h\ Rev. 
Fzra Rathbun, in the spring of 1846. 

The German Methodist work was inauirurated b\- Rev. Dr. 



i8 Iowa Historical IvHcturks. 

Nast in 1S35, but no distinct German mission was organized 
till 1844, in Keokuk Count}-. 

The records of the Methodist Episcopal Climch in Iowa are 
complete since the organization of the Iowa Conference, in 
1844, and this brief sketch must sullice. 



BAPTIST CHURCH, 



For facts lierein set forth credit is due to Rev. Charles 
E. Brown, of St. Joseph. Missouri. 



Till', first Baptist Church, west of the Mississippi River, 
north of the State of Missouri, was organized in a little loo. 
cabin, nine miles west cf the present city of Burlington, upon 
June 20th, 1834, one }ear after the completion of the lirst 
■•Black Hawk Purchase."" It was called the Long Creek 
Church and consisted of eleven members — now Danville 
Church. A little more than five years later the lirst Baptist 
Association, called the Des Moines Association, was organized 
upon a prairie lawn near the log cabin. 

Early in June, 1839, Rev. Rudolphus Weston, of Carthage, 
Illinois, made a trip up the Mississippi River preaching as he 
proceeded, until he reached the place now^ known as LeCIaire. 
Here he founded a church June loth. 1839, and called it Bat!) 
Baptist Church in memory of the earl}- New York home of 
its first members. Services were held for several years in* a 
l>ri\ate house. The people living along the road between the 
liouses of two prominent members knew when a meeting was 
to be held by seeing "Sister Palmer riding a favorite old 
horse and Brother Palmer walking by her side."" Mr. Weston 
was called to the pastorate and accepted the call. A serious 
illness while on his way to this new held prexented his enter- 
ing upon the work. 

During the early sjiring of 1839, Re^■. Calvin Greenleaf 
j->reached for two months at Da\enport. He was succeeded 



Till-: Eari-v Ci.kk(;v oi" Iowa. 19 

by Rev. Titus Gilletl, who also preached at Rock Ishmd. A 
church was organized September 14th. 1839 '^"^^ ^^^" several 
months was ministered to b\^ a young man Oliver Emerson, 
of Ohio, but on account of his views regarding the Lord's 
Supper, he was not ordained and afterwards became a Con- 
gregational minister. 

Tn June, 1841, Rev. Ezra Fishei', of the Baptist Home Mis- 
yionar\- Society began his labors in Davenport and IMuscatine 

in less than a \ear leaving Davenport. 

August 9th, 1840, a church was organized at Dubuque by 
Rev. Warren B. Morey, a missionary residing at Galena, Illi- 
nois. Rev. Barton Carpenter became pastor of the church in 
the spring of 1841. During his pastorate of three years, the 
first church edifice for Baptist worship in the Territory was 
erected -the second soon after at Davenport. 

June 26th, 184 1, the church at Iowa City was organized 
with Rev. W. 1^. Morey as its first pastor. His field was ex- 
tended to Marion in ]>ihn county and to the Cedar River. 
Rev. Dexter P. Smith became pastor in 1845. 

October 30th. 1841. Rev. E. Fisher organized a church at 
Bloomington (now Muscatine) and was its first pastor. 

The State Baptist x^ssociation was organized at Iowa City 
in the month of June, 1842. when an arrangement was made 
for a meeting at Davenport to form an association of churches 
north of the Iowa River similar to the Des Moines Association 
in southeastern Iowa. 

September i6th, 1842, the Dubuque Association was organ- 
ized at Da\'enport in the chamber of a small frame building on 
h'ront street. The churches represented were Bath. 1839; 
Davenport. 1839; Dubuque, 1840; Bloomington. 1841; Iowa 
City. 1841: Forks of the Maquoketa, 1842. 

One other church existing on the Hne between Jones and 
Delaware counties, with Rev. Ira Blanchard. as pastor, was 
not represented. Seven churches in all. 

Rev. C. E. Brown, pastor of Maquoketa Church gives a 
•sketch of some of the difficulties attendini!- traxel. •■When 



20 Iowa Historical Lectures. 

the time came to prepare to go to Davenport, our good 
brother Doolittle would furnish a horse, but the wagon we 
had for the trip to the meeting of the State Association at 
Iowa City, had left the settlement. The horse I could ride, 
but that would not fill the bill. All were anxious that Mrs. 
Brown should go, so I secured the loan of the hind wheels and 
axle-tree of a Hoosier lumber wagon, went to the fence and 
got poles suitable for thills, and with a board on wooden pegs, 
we were soon ready for the forty mile trip. We had a bundle 
of oats for a cushion and enjoyed the ride across the prairies 
and through groves unmarred by the vandalism of man." 
The prototype of the common road cart of to-day. 

August 31st, 1842, Rev. C. E, Brown as a missionarw or- 
ganized a church at the Forks of the Maquoketa. lie had 
come from New York in Ma}- preceding, under the pledge of 
a salary of one hundred dollars and whatever could be ob- 
tained upon the field. A log cabin was erected for his resi- 
dence, into which he moved before doors or windows were 
in place. To secure stove pipe he had to ride to Dubutiue, a 
distance of forty miles. On account of the severit\- of the 
winter 1842-3 he was compelled to go to Davenport where he 
remained, with the exception of a visit to his home in New- 
York, till 1847, returning then to Maquoketa whose church lu- 
found in a comatose state. 

During t/ie summer of 1843, Mr. Brown made a missionary 
tour uj") the Mississippi. Previous to his leaving Da\enport a 
man with a halter tied around his shoulders called ujion him 
with the statement that he was hunting stray horses and a 
I^aptist minister to come to Camanche and baptize hiniseU and 
wife, his brother and several others who had become Chris- 
tians in a revival there. His missionary tour, therefore, ex- 
tended as far nortli as Camanche. wiiere he organized a church 
late in June, 1843. 

Near the same time Rev. W. B. Mure\ , of Iowa Cit\ . or- 
ganized a church at Marion and another at Cedar River. 

The good Tiatui'i- and (piiet luimoi- of Re\'. C. K. Brown, 



The Early Ci.ekg\ of Iowa. zr 

from whose reminiscences the above statements have been 
compiled, appear throughout his narration. One instance will 
suffice, and at the same time will confirm the impression that 
the clergy are not averse to the pleasures of the table. IK- 
says at the time of the organization of the Dubu([ue Associa- 
tion, the question of the time for holding its annual meetings 
was discussed. Two considerations presented themselves. 
I. They must avoid, if possible, the sickly season. 2. The} 
would meet if possible, at a time when vegetables were al 
their best and when chickens had reached the period of deli- 
cate fatness. 

•' But as all these, sickly times, and fat chickens, ami fresh 
vegetables came at the same time of the year, of the two evils 
we concluded to take the least and have the chickens and take 
our chances with the ague." 

The opportunity for a feast of good things must have had a 
strong temptation to those who could rely upon not more than 
one hundred dollars in cash for a 3ear's services. 

The time for annual meetings was determined on as the 
Friday before the third Sunday in September "until wise 
men caine from the east and changed it to the great detriment 
of the spiritual and devotional parts of the meeting." 

As the reminiscences of Rev. C E. Brown have their loca- 
tion largely upon the field of his own labors, north of the 
Iowa River, the compiler is compelled to gather information 
from other sources regarding the held south of the Iowa River 
within the bounds of the Des Moines Association. So far he 
has been unsuccessful, exxept with reference to the church at 
Keokuk which was organized February 5th. 1847. Its lirst 
pastor was Rev. J. N. Seele}-. During the same yt;ai- a 
church edifice was begun, and to secure aid in its building the 
pastor spent several weeks among older churches outside the 
State. He returned with •• forty-four dollars and twent\-two 
cents in cash, two common stoves with eight joints of pipe, one 
keg of nails, a small roll of calico, and a bible and h}'mn book 
for the pulpit." a liberal donation for the time when the [)as- 



2 2 Iowa IIistokical Li-:cturks. 

tr)i- was (jnl\' proinisccl tliree hundred dollars for a year's salary 
provided one hundred and seventy-five dollars could be ob- 
tained ironi the Missionary Societv of the church. 

(Letters written have not been answered and the sketch is 
therefore imperfect.) 

State Association met as follows: 1^43. at Davenport; 
1844, at Mt. Pleasant: 1845. at l)lo(jinini^ton; 1846. at Iowa 
City. 

Churches aside ivom those airfad\ noted were reported at 
Washington, liurlinoton. C(jlumbus City, lirigliton and Jef- 
ferson. 

Cleri^ymen not named above appear as foUovvs: H. John- 
s(jn. A. Sherwood, A. P. Tannyhill, and - — • Spainshower. 

Colleges in the State under Baptist control, have been Bur- 
lin<:fton Collegiate Institute, Central University at Pella. Des 
Moines University at Des Moines. 



CHRISTIAN CHURCH, 



^VwE compiler is indebted for information regarding the 
Christian Church, to Rev. N. A. McConnell, of Greeley, Iowa, 
Rev. A. M. Haggard, of Colfax, to James Howie, Esq., of 
Pubuque. and to " The lozva Pulfit,^'' one article in which was 
prepared by Rev. J. R. Vawter. of Des Moines. 



Till-: authorities alluded to do not agree in all points as to the 
■early movements of the church in the Territorv of Iowa. 

Mr. Howie claims that the first Christian Church in Iowa 
was organized at the mouth of Cattish Creek, two and one- 
half miles from the present Dubuque postoffice, in 1834. It 
consisted of forty members with John Baugh as pastor. 

Re\'. N. A. McConnell gives the Dubuque Church organ- 
ized in 1835 '^^ ^^^'^ first in the Territory, with Elder Lancaster 
as its pastor. He says that there were other preachers who 
did not give their tin\e wholly to prraching. James Brown- 



TiiK Kari.\ Cleh(;v oi' Iowa. 23 

lie at Long Grove, Scott county. Mordecai Mobley at Du- 
buque, James Rutnboldt also in Scott countv. Dr. John Ross, 
Lost Creek, Lee county. This last named gentleman is also 
■claimed as a "zealous Methodist" and probabl\- does not be- 
long in this list. 

Rev. Mr, Vawter claims that the first ser\ice of the Chris- 
tian Church held in Iowa was at the cabin of Isaac Briggs, 
near Lost Creek, J^ee count\ . in 1836. with David R. Chance 
as j)reacher and that in Juh of that \ ear the Lost Creek 
Cluu'ch was (organized with a membership of eight persons. 
The CIiri<,lian Oracle in giving an accovmt of the hftieth anni- 
versary of the Tvost Creek congregation in 1886, also gives a 
transcript of the record of tlie organization of the chni-ch at 
Dubuijue in 1835. 

Of the churches now in existence, the preponderance of 
testimony favors that of Dubuque as the tirst organized, with 
Llder .Lancaster as the lirst settled pastor of the denomination. 

The Lost Creek Church has the honor of ei"ecting the lirst 
church edifice of the Christian denomination. 

The Dubucpie Church purchased from the Congregational- 
ists the ••Old Stoni- Church " about the year 1840. No in- 
formation has been obtained in regard to other church edilices 
previous to 1846. 

Church organizations had been effected after those of Du- 
buque and Lost Creek, at Davenport, Mt. Pleasant, Marion, 
Oskaloosa and Fort Madison. The list of preachers indicates 
also the location of churches at other points. 

Lancaster at Dubuipie. David R. Chance at Lost 

Creek. Peter Shook at Edchville. Charles Rigdon at Oska- 
loosa, John Rigdon at Wapello, Henry Mott at Oskaloosa, S. 

II. ]>onham at I^'rank Pierce, Thompson at Lost Creek, 

Arthur Miller, Levi Flemming, IL H. Ilendrix, H. P. Gatch- 
ell, James Brownlie at Long Grove, Charles Levan at Daven- 
port. Aaron Chatterton. H. C. Mott. J. W. Gill and N. A. 
-McConnell. TIu' list embraces known pastors previous to 
1850. Of those coming before 1846. Re\ . Peter Shook is the 
xjnlv survivor. 



24 



Iowa IIistokicai. Lectures. 



The first State meeting worthy of the name, was held in- 
Marion, May 23rd — 26th, 1S50. At this meeting thirty-nine- 
congregations were reported with a membership of 2.009. 

The first organ of the denomination was pubhshed in 1850,. 
at Mt. Pleasant, called '• The Western Evanorlist "' and edited 
bv Rev. Daniel Bates. 

Mr. Haggard writes, "we take a litde pride m the fact that 
we are the onlv one of the six or eight strongest evangelical 
denominations so called that is strictly American in its rise or 
origin." 

A church was organized at Richmond. Keokuk county .. 
1840 (?) and a church edifice built in 1847. 

Another church is reported as organized in Jackson county 
in 1844 by Re\'. B. F. Chastain. 

The denomination has taken a prominent place in educa- 
tional work and maintains "Drake University" at Des Moines.. 
and "Oskaloosa College" at Oskaloosa. 

Tile Christian Standard and Tlie Christian Oracle are thc- 
lowa representatixes of the Christian Church. 



PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

Tin-: brief statement following is the result of information- 
gathered from documents in the possession of S. N. Watson. 
D. D.. of Iowa City, and from a history of Trinity Episcopal 
Church of Muscatine compiled by J. P. Walton. 

From a diary kept by Bishop Kemper^ it appears that he 
passed up the Mississippi River in the summer of 1838. 
July 14th he writes. ••! am again in a new country, and am 
now farther north than I have e\'er been since I was a Bishop. 
Into the new Territory of Iowa the people are rapidly flock- 
ing. I hope to be at Dubuque the 19th.*' 



1 Rev. Juckson Kemper was sent as an evangelist from Pennsylvania to 
territory north of 36° 30'. lie was made Bisiiop of Indiana and Missonri 
in 183^)— of Wisconsin and Iowa later, and in 1853 of Wisconsin. 



The Early CLKKtiv oi" I()\\\. 25 

Under date of July 23rd. he contitiues. •■a week ago Mr. 
Minard, Mr. Gear and myself went in a steamboat to Du- 
buque where we spent a day and 1 preached." This was prob- 
ably llie first Protestant ICpiscopal Church service held in 
Iowa. 

Early in 1839. Matthew Matthews, with his son and two 
brothers, with their wives and children, canie to Bloomington 
and organized the tirst Episcopal Church in Iowa. Mr. Wal- 
ton suggests as its model the family church noted in (jen. 
vii. 13. Bishop Kemper visited this church September 30th, 
on a tour from (ialena through Dubuque, where he preached 
.Septend:)er 19th and 22nd, and thence passed down the east 
side of the Mississippi to Stephenson (Rock Island), crossing 
to Davenport in a sail-boat. He preached at Stephenson and 
Davenport September 29th but ■• found no Episcopalians at 
-either place." After stopping at Bloomington a short time 
he proceeded down the river to Keokuk, and St. Louis. 

The following \ear, 1840. October 22nd. the Bishop ofli- 
•ciated at Dubuque, and October 31st at liloomington to the 
"Church now^ consisting of seven members. -November ist 
■administered the communion and solennilzed the rile of bap- 
tism to two children of the Matthews family." 

Mr. >hitthews had appropriated a good lot near the public 
.^cpiare for a church editice. and had drawn some lumber upon 
the lot. but was unwilling that a missionary should be sent until 
the editice was completed. The Bishop promised one hund- 
red dollars to pay last bills in its erection. 

Leaving Bloomington November qth. Bishop Kemper visit- 

-ed Grandview. Harrison. Wapello. Elorence, Yellow Springs 

(at which place he found a clergyman from Virginia, Rev. 

Zachariah Goldsmith cultivating a farm and preparmg to 

-open a school the next spring) and Burlington. 

During the month of Julv. 1840, services were held at 
Rockingham just below Davenport, and following these a 
•church was organized at Davenport, which became so pros- 
perous under die rectorship of Rev. G. H. Goldsmith as to 



26 Iowa Hisioricak Lkctl;kks. 

promise during" the year 1841. tlie sum of fi\e lumdred dollars^ 
for missionary Avork in Iowa. 

Thoui^h steps were taken tov\ard the erection ol a ehiu'ch 
editice at I51oomini;ion. in iS_|o. it is j)r(»hahle lliat ilie eluu'ch 
in Davenport was tlie tirst roinplclcd -dwd occupied \\\ 1S41. 

Tile iirst serxice held in the Bloominijton Ciiurch before its 
completion, was the hmerai serxice of Mr. Matthews, its most 
liberal donor. March i6th. 1842. it was conducted h\ the 
Kc\'. John Stocker. the Presbxterian cleri;"\ man of the place. 

The iiistory of the building of tlie Bloomington ICj^iscopa} 
C'hurch is somewhat jieculiar. The editice -Mvas a frame 
Iniildino-. twent\-t\\ o In titty feet, one and three (juarter stories- 
high, with eight side w indows. each ha\ing lifteen lights of 
eight bv ten glass, with a small \'estr\ room nbout se\en In- 
nine feet in the clear. The lower storx- was eight feet high 
and liad a row of S([uare columns extending along the center 
aisle. The pews were made of black walnut, painted white. 
W almit was the best wood to be had for them, but it was too 
common without hax'ing it jiainted." The ujiper storx was 
added h\ the Masonic fraternity, and was occupied as a lodge 
room till 1854. ^^ reason of the Masonic occupancx. J^ishop 
Kemper refused to consecrate the building. This was the 
Iirst chm"ch edifice erected in Muscatine county for any de- 
nomination and was used In the Presbxterians through 
courtesy of the Episco]"»al societ\ . The Preslnterian bell 
mounted upon the \estry served the purpose of both congre- 
gations. Tlie Iirst sermon was jtreached in the clnn-ch bv 
Rev. (j. II. (joldsmith. May ist. 1842. 

Bishop Kemper ujion his occasional \isits to the fairiil\- of 
Mr. Matthews. t(jok occasion to urge the founding of a college 
in Iowa. His labors bore fruit at a later date in the establish- 
ment of (jriswold College. 

The onh' historx- obtainabK' ol lei-ritorial da\s is found in 
Bishop Kemper's diai\ and in Mr. \\ alton's historv of the 
Muscatine Chm"ch. The clergymen whose names appear are 
Re\'. Zachariah (joldsmith. Re\. (1. W. (loldsmith. of Daven- 



The liAKi,^ C'LEKfiv of Iowa. 27 

port, Rev. Samuel Sherwell who came to Burlington. Mas 
12th, 1843, from New York and who was deposed from tin- 
ministry after fair trial in 1S44. and Rc\ . James Keeler. an 
elderly man, who as it was thought tin-ncd oxer his •• barrel ol 
sermons" rather too Irec^uenth. and who was at one time pvv- 
sented with several c|uires of paper accompanied b\ a politr 
request that he would prepare sonu- new si-rmons. M'lu- con- 
^■rei^'ation increased somewhat as those who had i^ixx-n tin- 
hint desired to observe its effect. At the time of the openini;- 
of the Bloomington Church for i-e<;ular scrxices, no Bible suit- 
able for the reading" desk could be found nearer than St. Louis 
and the ladies of tin- church collected nioncw" enough to pro- 
cure one. 

As witli churches of other denominations, there was no 
rapid increase in numbers until the "iron horse "" crossed the 
Mississippi and immii^rants came rapidh' in its train. 

The church was oroanized at Iowa Citw 1847. b\' Re\'. A. 
Louderbach. of Daxenjioi't. 

It was not till iVui^ust 17th. 1853. that a preliminar\- Con- 
vention was called to or^'anize the diocese of Iowa. Se\'en 
churches onh' were represented. The cler4>'\- present wei"e: 

Rev. John Batchelder, missionary for Des Moines countv. 

Rev. A. Louderbach. rector at Davenport. 

Re\'. William Adderly. rector at Bvu^lington. 

Rev. R. D. Brooke, rector at Dubuque. 

Rev. John Ufford. rector at Muscatine. 

Rev. Samuel Goodale. rector at Cedar Rapids. 

Rev. C. C. Townsend. missionary at Iowa Cit\'. 

Ten parishes and stations were reported. 

At the first annual meeting Mav 31st, 1854, Bishop Kemper 
was present. Rev. Cxeorge Denison appears in addition to 
those named above— and the mission at Iowa Cit\' is not reji- 
resented. 

(^ne hundred and tift\-se\en couununicants are reported 
from eight churches. 

The organization of the diocese was not perfected until the 



28 Iowa Historical Lpxiures. 

coming ot l^ishop Henry Washington Lee from the rectorship 
of St. I^uke's Church of Rochester. New York, October i8th, 
1854. 

Rev. Samuel Watson came to the State with Bishop Lee 
and was prominent in the organization of churches in both the 
eastern and western parts of the State. 1857 was a fruitful 
\ear in the establishment of churches. 

The organ of the denomination is Tlic lozju CliiircJiiium. 
pubHshed at Davenport. 



PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 



Crkdit is due Rev. j. B. McBride, of Princeton. Iowa, for 
infoiMuation regarding some of the earliest clergy in the Terri- 
tory of Iowa. 

His notes ha\e been supplemented by items taken from the 
Minutes of the (reneral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church 
in the United States, and from such private sources as were 
within reach. 



The first Presbyterian Church in the territory now known 
as Iowa, was formed at West Point, Lee county. June 24th. 
1837. by Rev. Launcelot G. Bell and Rev. Samuel Wilson. 

The fornu'r was a preacher in Tennessee in 1830. came to 
Illinois in 1837. l>()th were members of the Schuvler. Illinois. 
Presb\tery. 

The first Presbyterian clergxinan io l(K"ate in the Territor\' 
was Rev. John Stocker. a native of Vermont, who thought 
the State a good State to be born in and to emigrate from*" 
and so came •• clear to the \ery front." stopping on the way 
for a lime in Indiana, where he became a member of the Old 
School Presbytery of Logansport. From Monticello. Illinois, 
he came early in 1839. ^<^ Bloomington (Muscatine) and upon 
the 6th day of July. 1839. organized the second Presbyterian 
'Society of the Territory. This society did not affiliate with 



The Early Clergy ok Iowa. 29 

fither wing of tlie Presb3terian Cluircli until nearly three 
years after its organization. Mr. Stocker continued to min- 
ister to them from 1839 '^<' i'^45- ^ large portion of his 
people left the church and entered into relations with the New 
School body in 1842. 

Mr. Stocker is described as a small, light built man. genial, 
affable, and always at home with any proper company, always 
made all about feel that he was no burden to them. ''Mrs. 
Stocker was a tall. slim, strong-minded woman, haughty and 
aristocratic, so far as she was able to be. but very much of a 
lady to those she considered her equals."' 

Mr. Stocker held services all over the country and for three 
years he had a monopoly of the preaching. He died in 1848, 
in Muscatine, though he had been out of acti\e ser^•ice for 
three ^■ears. 

Mrs. Stocker sur\ived her husband a few years, supporting 
herself by teaching school in the old en(;rgetic way. 

Soon after the organization of the Bloomington society. 
Rev. Launcelot G. Bell took nart in orp-anizino- the church of 
Kossuth. x\ugust 4th. 1839. '^'^"^^ '^'■'^'^ ^"^ ^t Mt. Pleasant, 
x\pril 25th, 1840. and at Iowa City in August, 1840. Mr. 
Bell seems to have been quite prominent in Presbyterian 
circles till the time of his death, in 1868. 

He preached the opening sermon at the organization of the 
tirst Presbytery of Iowa at Muscatine. November 6th. 1840. 
He was moderator of the Synod of Iowa, which was organized 
at Muscatine. October 14th. 1852 and also moderator of the 
Synod of Southern Iowa, organized at Fairheld. October 8th. 

For se\'eral years he was pastor of the Preslnterian Ciiurch 
at k^iirfiekl. From 1850 to 1853. Mr. Bell was principal of a 
Female Academy in Fairfield, and at the same time acted as 
pastor of the churches at Shiloh and Libert\ville. In the year 
1864, he had removed to Monmouth, Illinois, and \\ as without 
a charge. 

Mr. Bell was a zealous advocate of parochial schools of a 



30 Iowa Histokical Lkl tluks. 

high grade and thought the cluirch committed a grave mistake 
in not making an effort to estabHsh such schools in Iowa. 

In the later years of his life he ^■isite(l Iowa in the interest 
of a school which his son-in-law. Kvv. O.J. King, was en- 
deavoring to establish in southwest Iowa. 

Until 1853. the Presb3^terian churches of Iowa wen- muler 
the supervision of the Synod of Illinois. Mr. Bell was dele- 
gate from the Presbyterv of Iowa in 1842 and 1848. Closely 
associated with Rev. L. G. Bell in the organization of the 
Presbyter}- of Iowa. November 6th. 1840. were Rev. Miciiael 
Hummer. Rev. J. M. Fulton and Re\ . h^nocli ^^ead. 

Rev. John Stocker came to tin- l'resb\ter\ from Logans- 
port. Indiana, and Re\'. Salmon L'owies from the Presb\-ter\- 
of St. C'lairs\'ille. Illinois. Rev. Salmon Cowles probabU did 
more missionar\' work than an\' other clerg\inan of his time. 
He began as a missionar\' in Alabama as earh- as 1821. lie 
must have been somewhat advanced in \cars when he came to 
the Tei'ritor\' of Iowa. 

In 1846. iVlr. Cowles is reported as in the employ of the 
Home Missionar\- Board, whose faithful servant he had been 
for se\'eral \ears (since 1840 at least). He then had charge 
of twehe stations with an aggregate membership of one hund- 
red and sixt\-six. The next vear. still an itinerant, he enleretl 
upon another field with a membershi]") of thirt\'-two. UK- 
next \ear he looked after eleven stations, including the town 
of Marion, \\ith a total membership of eight\"-one. 

In 1853. he w as settled as pastor of IInit\' Church. W apelio 
countv. Two \ears later he assmnes the oversight of the 
academ\' at \\ est Point, in connection with Rev. W. C. Hol- 
lyday Mr. Cow les also supplving the church — the tirst organ- 
ized in Iowa, l^he school was not prosperous, though Mr. 
Cowles was sanguine of its ultimate success. He died at 
West Point. 1868. 

He is spoken of as a man ot great earnestness. Industry and 
perseverance. He was a most efficient instrument in planting 
Presbvterianism in Iowa. 



Tin-: Kakia Cij:r(;\' oi Iowa. .^ i 

At the organization of the Iowa Presbytery, churches were 
reported at Biirlington. Ft. Madison, Round Prairie, Daven- 
port. Mt. Pleasant. Iowa City. Spring- Creek and Rockingham. 
The \ears iinmechately following the second Black Hawk 
Purchase (18^^71 were specialh' fruitful in church building In 
all denominations. 

In 1841. there were tweKe chiu"ches and six ministers. 

In 1842, there were eighteen chiuxhes and se\en ministers. 

A New School Presbyter}- was organized. April 28th. 1842. 
called Des Moines Presbytery, with four ministers enrolled, 
viz: Rev. W. W. Woods'. Rev. W. C. Rankin. Rev. Charles 
R. bisk and Rev. James A.Clark. At this meeting Re\'. A. 
T. Rankin was received from the Presbvtery of Cincinnati. 
The names of churches are not mentioned. 

The Iowa Presbytery had: 

In 1843. nine ministers and tvvent\-two churches. 

In 1844, eight ministers and twentv-one churches. 

In 1845. nine ministers, and twent\-six churches. 

In 1846. eight ministers and twenty-eight churches. 

In 1847. nine ministers and twenty-six chiu'ches. 

In 1848. eleven ministers and twent\-nine churches. 

In 1849. f<Ji-ii"teen ministers and twenty-nine churches. 

In 1850. thirteen ministers and thirt\'-two churches. 

In 1851. eleven ministers and twentv-two churches. 

In 1852. six ministers and thirteen churches onl\' were re- 
ported, but this year being the year of the organization of the 
Synod of Iowa, no delegates were sent to the Synod of Illinois. 

i\t the lirst ;uinual meeting of the Synod of Iowa, three 
I'resbyteries. Iowa. Cedar and Des Moines, reportei-l tw ent\- 
five ministers and fort^•-three churches. 

The clergymen most jirominent in the liislorN' of Presbyte- 
rianism before the organization of the S\nod of Iowa, in addi- 
tion to those already named, wen.-: Revs. F. A. Pratt, J. C. 
Sharon (deceased 1869), J'^^^*-'^ ^- Fullerton (deceased 1874). 
J. D. Mason. James (j. Shinn. John M. Fulton. Thomas II. 
Dinsmore. John IIuds(jn. vSamuel McCune. Joshua T. Pheliis. 



,^2 Io\^•A HisTORicAi. Lecturks. 

I). V. Smock. R. T. Dinsmore (deceased 1854). Justice T. 
Umsted. 

All ai'e rejiorted as connected with the (^Id School win^- of 
the church. About the time of the organization of the New 
School Presbytery. Con£jre<i^ationalism obtained a standinu' in 
the Territory of Iowa, and drew to its membership inan\ Pres- 
b\terians of New School tendencies. 

Two Presbyterian churches existed in Iowa City. Old 
School holding its meetings in the Assembly Chamber of the 
State Capitol New School occup\ ing for the same jiurposes 
the Senate Chandler. During the summer, when doors were 
left open, the clergymen faced each other and it was humor- 
ouslx' remarked h\ one "now we begin to see. e\'e to e\e."' 

On the subject f)f education, there had been on the jiart of 
Presbyterian clergNinen from their tirst coming to the Terri- 
tory decided interest, as has been already stated. The school 
at West Point was discontinued when the Synod withdrew its 
favor transferring the same to what is known as Lenox Ins- 
titute, at Ilopkinton. Delaware count\ . Parsons College 
followed the Female Seminai-y at Fairfield. 

While the school at West Point grew into •• Des Moines Col- 
lege" Rey. J. C. Sharon was Professor of Languages and 
Rev. T. 11. Dinsmore Professor of Mathematics. In 1853 
the number of professors was increased by addition of I'lev. 
V. B. Dinsmore. 

Coe College at Cedar Rapids is under Presbxterian control. 



CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 

IN THE 'J'EKKITORy OF IOWA. 1838 1846. 
^^•I1.IJAM SALTER. I). 1). 



Prior to the organization of the Territor\ of Iowa. July 4th. 
1838. a few Congregational clergymen had visited the "Black 
Hawk Purchase." wiiich was first a part of Michigan Terri- 
lorw 1834 5- '^"^^ afterwards of Wisconsin Ten"itory. 1836 7- 



'\. 



The Early Cm:k(;v of Iowa. 33 

They were the Rev. Wm. P. Aplhorp, Rev. Asa Tiinicr. 
Rev\ Julius A. Reed. These clergymen were natives of New 
li^ngland, and graduates of Yale College. I'hey brought to 
the interior of the continent those principles and institutions 
of christianitN' which the Pilgrim Fathers two centuries eai-lier 
brought over the ocean and planted in the then wildeincss of 
the new world. Re\'. Asa Turner wrote to some brethi-en 
whom he in\ited to this work: "Come with the spirit of ^ our 
Pilgrim l^^athers, and plant their principles in this ricii soil. 
Do not be ashamed of }"our mother as soon as vou cross the 
AUeghanies, as man}^ of our good brethren are. The prin- 
ciples of church government planted on Plyn>outh Rock are, 
in my apprehension, the same as those taught b\' the Savior 
and His apostles, and I am free to wish the\' might spread oxer 
this great valley." 

The first Congregational Church in Iowa was organized at 
r)enmark. Lee countv. Mav 5th. 1838. then Wisconsin Tt-v- 
ritor\'. 

Rev. Asa Turner and Re\'. Julius A. Reed, ga\ e all their 
after lives to the planting of the gospel in Iowa, and their 
ashes rest in its soil, the former living to the age of eighty-six 
years, the latter to eighty-one years. Rev. Reuben (iaylord 
came to Iowa in 1838, and Rev. Zerah K. Hawle\ in 1839; 
thev \\ ere natives of Connecticut, and also graduates of Yale. 
Rev. Charles Burnham. a native of New Hampshire.'. Rev. 
John C. Holbrook. a native of Vermont, Rev. Oliver Emei- 
son and Rev. x\llen B. Hitchcock, natives of Massachusetts, 
came in 1841. All the above named clerg\-men are deceased 
with the exception of the Rev'. Dr. Holbrook. pastor foi" se\"- 
enteen years at Dubuque, who recently preached on his eight\ - 
sixth birthday, January 7111. 1894. with much of his fornu-r 
vigor, at Stockton. California. 

At the call of the Rev. Asa Turner, pastor at Denmark, 
eleven students in the Theological Institution at AndoviT. 
Massachusetts, of the class of 1843, organized an •• Iowa 
Band.*" and came to Iowa. nine, in 1843. and two in 1844. 



^4 Iowa Historical Lkcturks. 

Thev were, in the order of age. Harvey Adams, Edwin li. 
riirner, Daniel Lane, Erastus Ripley, James J. Hill, Benjamin 
A. Spaulding, Alden B. Robbins, Horace Hutchinson, Eph- 
raim Adams, Ebenezer Alden, Jr., William Salter. They 
were all college graduates. Rev. William A. Thompson came 
in 1843 from the "^riieological Department of Yale College. 
Kev. David Knowles. the first Welsh preacher in Iowa, came 
ill 1845. 

Such were tiie men. witii a few others, whose stay was only 
transient, that laid the foundations of the churches of the Con- 
gregational oi'der in Iowa. They were the earnest advocates 
of education, of temperance, of the moral order of human life, 
and of the abolition of slavery. Thev identified religion with 
intelligence, with virtue, with libert}-, with righteousness of 
life, with the bettering of the world. In their labors they 
faced opposition and endured hardness. They began their 
work in humility and povert3\ They worshiped God in the 
cabins of the pioneers, in barns and log school-houses, in 
blacksmith shops, in groves under the dome of the sky. From 
those beginnings, and from similar sacrifices and toils of the 
jVioneer clergy of other denominations, has come the miracle 
of Time, this advanced commonwealth of Iowa, rich already 
in the best institutions of modern civilization, richer still in 
hope and promise for times afar. 

"The General Association of the Congregational Churches 
and Ministers^ of Iowa" w^as organized at Denmark. November 
6th, 1840, with Rev. Asa Turner as Moderator. 

Successi\e meetings were held as follows during territorial 
days: 



1 'I'ho Coni(rt'g;ition;il clergy seem to Ik- distiii^iiished for loni^evity 
ami for lonij pastorates. Of those named b\' Dr. Salter as here in ter- 
ritorial days, Ejihraim Ailams, Harvey iVdanis, John C". Ilolhrook, Allien 
1>. Robbins, William Salter, are still li\ ini^. 

Dr. Robbins is residing' at Muscatine, whose eliurih he served as jiastor 
for fifty years. 

Dr. Salter is now in his ft)rt\ -ninth ^•ear as pastor of the chureii at f>ur- 
linj^ton. Dr. Salter was pastor at Maquoketa from 1843 to 1846: j. L. P. 



The Eai^ia Cij:r(;v of Iowa. 35 

April 30th, 1841, Fairtield. Asa Turner. Moderator. 

Nov. 4th, 1841, Hartford (Danville) Julius A. Reed. 

May 19th, 1842, Davenport, Julius A. Reed, 

October 6th, 1842, Brighton. Charles Burnhani, '' 

April 13th, 1843, Denmark, Charles Burnham. '• 

Sept. 14th, 1S43, Iowa City, John C. Holbrook. 

October 3rd, 1844, Brighton, Reuben Gaylord, 

June I2th, 1845, Muscatine John C. Holbrook 

June 4th, 1846, Dubuque, Daniel Lane, 

Of eighty-eight clergymen still connected with Ministerial 

Associations of the State, whose date of ordination is known, 

elexen have been in the ministry more than fiffy years and one, 

Kev, M. N. Miles, for nearly sixty years. 

Colleges imder Congregational control are. Iowa College at 

( Jrinnell and Tabor College at Tabor. 

^rhe organ of the denomination in the State is "Cojioj-coa- 

(ioual hnva." published at Grinnell. 



UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 



BY JAMES DAWSON, WASIIINt^TON, IOWA. 

The tirst organizations of this church were under the title 
of Associate Reformed Church, or Associate Presbyterian 
Church. The name was not changed to United Presbyterian 
until 1855. 

The Associate Presbyterian Church had six organizations 
in Iowa previous to 1846. 

1. The Pisgah Church, at C^rawfordsville. Washington 
county, organized October 14th. 1838. Its first pastor- was 
Rev. William Smith, 1841-1849. 

2. Birmingham Church, Van Buren county, organized 
1841. First pastor was Rev. D. Lindsay, 1842-1854. 

3. Morning Sun (Virginia Grove) Church, organized 1841 . 
First pastor was Rev. J. Duff, 1844 1847. 



36 Iowa Historical Lp:ctures. 

4. Washington Church, organized October 14th. 1841. 
with eleven members. First pastor was Rev. G. C \ incent, 
1 841- 1847. Mr. Vincent preached the first sermon eNer lieard 
in Washington. February 7th, 1841. 

5. Cohimbus City Church was organized 1844. ^^"^ '"'^^ 
pastor w^as Rev. W. H. Andrew% 1 848-1 851. 

6. Pleasant Valley Church (Dutch Creek Associiition ). 
organized 1846. First pastor was Rev. J. T. Tate, 1854 1870. 

Rev. John Scott labored also in these churches. 

The Assor/a/r Refornicd Presbyterian C/i?irr/i liad three or- 
ganizations in the Territorv of Iowa: 

I. New London. 2. Washington. 3. Brighton. The 
clergymen were Rev. Wm. Graham, Rev. S. F, Vannatta. 
Rev. — Sturgeon and Rev. — Patterson. 

Later, churches appear as follows: Keokuk Associate Re- 
formed, 1853, with Rev. Wm. Bayse as pastor, 1853 1861. 

Keokuk Associate, 1855. with James Brown, D. D., as pas- 
tor, 1856-1875. 

The United Presl)yterian CJiurch ^^■as organized at Wash- 
ington in 1855, the successor of the Associate Church, organ- 
ized 1841. Rev. S. F. Vannatta ministered to this church and 
the Brighton Church, 18551863. 

Church Edifices. 

The Associate Congregation of Washington ( now First 
United Presbyterian Congregation ) erected a building in 1842 
at a cost of about two hundred dollars. The first sermon 
heard in Washington a year before, was delivered in a room 
sixteen feet square and all persons living within fi\e miles were 
present and found plenty of room, and vour iiumble ser\ ant 
led the singing without either pipe organ, fiute or fiddle. 

Some years later a second edifice was erected, costing one 
thousand dollars and this has given place to one costing six- 
teen thousand dollars. 

The Associate Reformed Church (now second L'. P. 
Church ) erected a church edifice in 1856. which is now replaced 
b}' one costing fifteen thousand dollars. 



Thk Eari-v Ci.khcjv ()]•■ Iowa. 37 

But with these evidences of prosperit\', we recall early da\ s 
in which both ministers and people were compelled to practice 
much self-denial in order to sustain their churches. 

As an illustration of what econom\- will do Kcx . (r. C\ 
Vincent came to Washington in 184 1. without any monev in 
his pocket. He preached two-thirds of his time at Washing- 
Ion and one-third at ^irandN'iew. upon a yearl\- salar\' (jf three- 
hundred dollars. When he left us in 1847. he paid all his 
debts and carried with him the sum of six hundred dollars, 
saved after supporting his family. The membershij:) increased 
during these seven years from eleven to one hundred and 
twenty-eight. 



Mr. Jame-; Dawson, to whom we are indebted for the a bene 
facts has been a resident of Washington county for hfty-five 
years. He has been a ruling elder in the church for lifty-three 
years and is the only living elder elected as earl}- as 1841. 
His election was upon the day of the organization of his 
church. October 14th. 1841. 



HISTORY OF THE SETTLEMENT OF FRIENDS 
THE TERRITORY OF IOWA, 

WITH SOME SUBSEQUENT INCTDKN IS. 
H^" LAWRIE TATUM. 



The first Friends who immigrated to the 'I'erritory which 
became the State of Iowa in 1846, appear to have been Isaac 
Pigeon and family, who located in Henry county, in 1835. 
near where Salem was subsequently built. He was soon lol- 
lowed by Henry W.Joy; (jideon. Thomas and Stephen i^'ra- 
zier: Stephen, John and Nathan Hocket and their families; 
also Wm. Hammer and others, all of whom located in thai 
vicinity in 1835. 

In eighth month, 1837, they connnenced holding religious. 
service in the dwelling house of Henry W. Joy. 



,^8 Iowa Histokicai, Lkctlhes. 

Thoniiis Frazier was their lirst minister. In sixth mouth, 
1839, ^ meeting-house was used for church purposes. It was 
made of hewed logs, twenty-two by fort^•-four feet, divided 
into two rooms with sHding partition. 

While Iowa was still a Territory. Cedar Creek and East 
(irove meetings were organized a few miles from Salem. 
Joseph D. Hoag was the minister at East Grove. 

The prominent Friends during those early years were, 
Thomas Frazier. Joseph D. Hoag. Elwood Ozbun, Seborn 
Dorland and Reuben Dorland. The latter was a prominent 
school teacher, exerting an influence that is felt to this dav. 

The next settlement of Friends appears to have been at 
Pleasant Plain. Jefferson county, to which place William Pick- 
erell and family moved in 1837. In 1839 '^"*^^ 1840 he was 
joined by fsaiah Hinshaw. Amos Moskins, John Jones. John 
IJeals. Wm. Pickering, Jesse Arnold, Phineas Huston. Joseph 
Roberts and their families. By 1846 there were further addi- 
tions of John Andrews, Jonathan McConnell, and their famil- 
ies, with a number of others. Lydia McConnell was their first 
minister. All of the above w-ere pi'ominent in church affairs; 
also Benjamin C. and Mary Andrews. Of later years the 
latter was an efhcient clerk of the Women's Yearlv Meeting 
of Friends. 

The}' commenced holding church service in their private 
houses in 1840. In early spring of 1841, thev built a meet- 
ing-house of hewed logs, eighteen by twenty feet, with clap- 
board roof.' The room was warmed with charcoal burned 
in the center on a square of earth left without flooring. 

The first Friend who located in Mahaska covrnty was Jesse 
Arnold, who took "a claim" fifth month, first, 1843, the day 
that the; '-New Purchase'" was opened for settlement. A 
month or two later. Wm. Powell, Thomas Stafford, and 
BraiUley Stafford settled in the same vicinity, near where Os- 



' Clapboards were a kind of shingles split out of native timber three feet 
long. Two layers were placed on together, so as to break joints, and they 
were usually kept to their place witli heavy poles placed on thiMU. 



Thi-: Kari.v Ci.krc;^' oi- Iowa. ,^9 

kaloosa was afterwards located. In 1H44. L)a\id Crispeii set- 
tled in the same vicinity. 

The iirst meetings were held in Thomas Stafford's house [a 
double log-cabin) in 1845. They had no resident minister, 
and the meetings were sometimes held in silent waiting upon 
the Lord, and their spiritual strength was renewed. Joseph 
n. I loag, a minister from Salem, visited them in the autumn 
of 1845. As the women filled the house, a large fire of logs 
was made on the outside. ;uid the men stood around it. The 
minister stood in the door and jireached the first Quaker ser- 
mon in Mahaska county. Subject. 77/(' Fall of j\ J an a }id Res- 
toration through Christ. Agnes Soj')her was their first resi- 
dent minister. A meeting-house was built in 1847 or 1848. 

Oskaloosa has since become an important center for Friends. 
The yearly meeting-house and Penn College have been lo- 
cated there. 

In 1844. Lawrie "^Fatum located near where Springdale now 
is in Cedar count\'. John H. Painter and family with Stephen 
Dean located there in 1845. Religious service was not held 
until 1849. J- ^- (ji't^iinell was the first minister there. It 
became a large settlement of Friends. It is probable that 
there were a few other settlements of Friends in the Terri- 
torv, but the limited time for procuring the history of them,, 
has prevented the writer from ascertaining the facts. 

Up to the present time some of the most influential and 
prominent members of the church have been David Hunt, El- 
wood Ozbun, Joseph D. Hoag. Lindley M. Hoag,Mary Pink- 
ham. Rodema Newlin, John Henry Douglas, Charles Hutch- 
inson, John Bond, John Y. Hoover. John Pennington, Matilda 
Adkinson, Lsom P. Wooton. Lawrie Tatum. Benjamin True- 
blood. Absalom Rosenburger, and Barclay- Hinchman. 

According to the ll^nited States census of 1890, there were 
seventy-four church organizations of Friends in Iowa; seventy- 
three church edifices, with seating capacity of 19,795; value 
of church property $102,632: membership. 8.146. The pres- 
ent membershij") is probabh- nine thousand. 



4© Iowa Historical Lkctikks. 

Iowa }-eaiiy meeting of Friends is held in Oskaloosa in the 
fore part of ninth month. The first session was held in 1863. 
Delegates of men and women are appointed in- quarterK 
meetings to attend, but it is a mass-meeting. Ministers and 
lay members, men and women are all entitled to a voice in the 
meeting. Men and women are alike eligible to the ministr\ 
w lien the church belie\es that they are called of God to tlu- 
service. 

In 1868. the subject of making an effort to do something 
for the benefit of the Indians was brought before Iowa vearlx 
meeting, and a small committee ^vas appointed to have tin- 
subject in charge. The yearly meeting proposed to the other 
yearly meetings of Friends in the United States to appoint 
committees to imite \\ith them in considering the subject, and 
take such action as micjht seem best. After other yearh 
meetings appointed their committees, the}' met and canvassed 
the subject, and then asked an inter^■iew with President (jrant 
in the spring of 1869. which he courteously granted. The\ 
then suggested to him to take into consideration the proprietx 
of appointing religious men for Indian agents, rather than 
mere politicians, with the thought that a religious agent 
would, so far as practicable, surround himself with religious 
employees, and the Indians be honestlv dealt with, so far as 
tlie authority of the agents extended, which had not alwa\s 
In-en the case in Indian agencies. 

After hearing their plea he said, ••gentlemen, your advice is 
good; I accept it. Now give me some names of Friends for 
Indian agents, and I will have them appointed."' This promjM 
action of President (irant was unlooked for by the committee, 
i'.nd after considering the subject, they responded to his wish. 

The Central Superintendency comprising the Indians in 
Kansas, and the wilder tribes of the Indian Territory, num- 
bering seventeen thousand in all. was placed imder the charge 
of Friends. Fnoch Hoag of Muscatine. Iowa, was appointed 
superintendent, and under him were nine agents. Two of 
these. Brinton Darlington and Lawrie Tatum were of Iowa. 



The Kaki.v CI.^:R(;^ of Iowa. 41 

Tlu- former had charge of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe 
Agent'}- in central western part of Indian "J\M-ritor\ . The hit- 
ter was assigned to the Kiowa and Comanche Agency in the 
southwestern part of tlie Territory. This was the commence- 
ment of "The Peace Policy" of President Grant. 

The result was so satisfactory that the President requested 
other churches to make nominations for the Indian service. 
Consecjuently nearly, or cpiite all of the Indian agents in the 
\arious Territories were members of the piominenl religious 
<lenominations during his administration. 



CHURCH OF UNITED BRETHREN, 

W. M. KKARDSHEAK. 1). 1). 

Till', first organization in Iowa was made in the house of Mr. 
Kdgington in Henry count w the fourth Sunda\' of October. 
1841. 

Re\'. John Burnes had settled in Lee count}' as earl\- as 
i8-;6 and preached occasionally as opportunity offered. 

In the same year Rev. Christian Trouj-) settled in Linn 
county, and preached among the settlers, as circumstances 
would allow. These men were not regularly settled pastors, 
but served as missionaries. They ma}- be considered as the 
Jirst pastors in our church liistor\' in Iowa. 

The first house for j-jublic worship was erected some time 
between 1844 '^'''^^ 1850. according to Rev. W. L. Shue}-. but 
the exact date and location can not be ascertained. 

Western College at Toledo was founded in December. 1850 
at Western and afterwards removed to Toledo. 

There is no denominational organ published in Iowa. The 
/vr/ii^-ioiis TclcS'Copc^ j-tublished at l)a\ton. Ohio, is the accred- 
ited oi'L-an. 



42 ' Iowa IIisioi^icai. Lixtikks. 

UNIVERSALIST CHURCH, 

l<i;\'. C. i:. PKRKLNS. 

Till-: First Universalist Society of Iowa City^ was oroanizfd 
November 6th. 1841. at the house of Edward Foster. 

The first pastor was Rev.. A. B. Gardiner, lie was suc- 
ceeded by Revs. Messrs. Libby. Kelso, i\'ck. Bunn. Westfall. 
Weedhouse, Sanford, 1^^-ancis. Kinnev and Miss Chapin. 
How^ many oi this list were in charge of the chiu-ch durini; 
territorial da\s. I am unable to sa\-."-' 



GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 

TiiK Synod of this cliurch. embracing- parts of Illinois and 
Missouri, and Iowa was organized in 1854. with four pastors. 

They have now a Theological Seminarv at Dubucjue. a 
College at Clinton and a Normal School at \Va\ei-l\ . Tlu- 
Synod is composed of more than sixt\- churches. 



MORMON CHURCH, 



These people reside at Laiuoni. Decatur count v. Their 
origin dates back to Nauvoo. Illinois, in the \ear i84(:). Thev 
removed from Nauvoo to Wisconsin and thence to Piano. Illi- 
nois, thence to Iowa in 1883. Tlu-ir leader \vas Joseph Smith. 
Jr. So far as known, all members are monogamists. 

'.So far ;is ran hv iL-anu'cI, this was tlu' first socit'tx- in tin- 'rorrilorx- of 
Iowa. 

-l'"roiii oIluT sources, it is li.'ariK'ci thai Mr. (Jardiiur hcijaii si'ixii'es hL-ru 
as i-arly as 1S39 ami that his iinnio(iiatc surrcssof was a Rr\. Win. h'ishri-, 
\\ lio was j-)ast()r w ht-n tlii.' hi'irk t-hurch was t.-ri'(.'tfci coriR-r of Iowa A\ lmuk- 
and Duhiiqiit' street, and remained till 1S44 ami w as sueeeetled In Rex. Mr. 
Westfall. 'I'lie others named were jiastors at a later tlate or were snj^plies 
for a hrii'f I inu'. 



IE Eaki.v C'r.KK(;v of Iowa. 43 

JEWISH Church, 

No con^-reo-atioii lias been traced lo Ici rilorial days. Solo- 
mon Lyons, Esq.. of Keokuk, reports a Benevolent Societ\ 
organized at Keokuk. 1S56, and that Davenport had a sxna- 
i,^o£rue at an earlier date, in 1862. under Rabbi Rosenthal 
permanent tpiarters were erected at Keokuk. 



:ethodist Protestant Church. 



Organizki) at Iowa City. May 4th. 1841. House of wor- 
ship erected 1841. 

Further information not obtainable, except that the church 
edifice passed into the hands of the Christian Church and was 
taken (k)wn a few years since. 



Amish Mennonites. 

This people settled in Iowa in 1846. Their first church 
was organized at Amish in 1857 and their first pastor was 
Elder Jacob Swartzendruber. 



Unitarian Church. 

Tup: earliest organization was effected at Keokuk in 18^3. 



Amana Society. 



TiiLs organization came into Iowa in the year i8=:s. 



English Lutheran Church. 



No congregation organized before 1846. 



LIBRHKY Ul- i,UNUKt.:>i 



016 093 926 6 



% 



THE STATE 

HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

OF IOWA. 



This Society was instituted by the Legislature of 1857. A Library and Cabinet are 
rapidly accumulating, and the Historical Record is issued quarterly. To gather 
the rapidly wasting historical material of the State, the Curators of the Society solicit 
the following contributions. 

1. Old letters, journals and manuscript statements of pioneer settlers, relative to 
the early history and settlement of the State, with sketches of prominent citizens of 
Iowa, eitlier living or deceased, and acts relative to the Indian tribes, chiefs and war- 
riors; and also Indian implements, ornaments and curiosities. 

2. Newspapers, exchanges or papers of old and curious print and date, pamphlets, 
magazines, catalogues of institutions of learning, minutes of ecclesiastical associations, 
conventions, conferences and synods, with their origin and history. All such are 
placed on file and bound when volumes are completed. 

3. Books of all kinds, and especially such as relate to American History, travels 
and biographies in general, and in the west in particular, family genealogies, maps, 
historical manuscripts, autographs of distinguished persons, coins, medals, paintings, 
portraits, statues and engravings. 

4. Editors and publishers of newspapers, magazines and reviews, will confer a 
lasting favor on the Society by contributing their publications regularly for its Library, 
or at least such numbers as may contain articles bearing upon Iowa history, biography, 
geography or antiquities; all of which will be carefully preserved for binding. 



THE IOWA HISTORICAL RECORD. 



This is a quarterly publication. Its object is to collect and preserve in a permanent 
form, facts connected with the history of the State. Of the various classes of historical 
facts, it will be its special endeavor to publish— 

1st. Such as relate to transactions of its early days, which are liable to be soon lost 
by the passing away of the participants. 

2d. Descriptive sketches of localities in the olden time, as their primal features are 
pictured upon the memory of observers. 

3d. Biographical sketches of prominent citizens. 

4th. The origin growth and developm.ent of the hjstitut'wns of the State, with their 
hearing upon the various interests which have called them into existence. 

5th. From time to time such of the hitherto unwritten history of the great war of 
modern times as relates to the valorous deeds of Iowa soldiers, practicable for introduc- 
tion, or which seems necessary to preserve it from passing from the knowledge of men. 

6th. Reminiscences of early settlers of every character of fact pertaining to pioneer 
life. 

To aid in the accomplishment of this purpose, contributions are requested of those 
who have in memorj' any portion of the early history of the State, and those having 
material for history, or authentic manuscripts, will confer a favor by forwarding them 
to the Secretary. 

The subscription price of the Historical Record isone dollar a year, in advance. 

All subscriptions, communications and donations to the Library and Cabinet should 
be addressed to ' 

M. \V. DAVIS, Secretary, 

Iowa City Iowa. 



1 



\ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



016 093 926 6 



